The 30-year-old former Manchester United front man, who has appeared 54 times for his country, said he did not have sufficient confidence in the team's backroom staff to play for his country again.

"Van the Man" has not been picked for his country since the 2006 World Cup where he scored one goal.

Van Basten said on the Dutch football federation website that he had explained to van Nistelrooy in Madrid on Friday that he could not be guaranteed a place in the starting line-up because of all the good strikers at his disposal.

Midfielder Mark van Bommel of Bayern Munich has also refused to play for Holland over the last few months because of his poor relationship with van Basten.